DISCOVER
FRANCE!
FUN FACTS
Official Name:
Capital:
National Holiday:
Population:
Administrative:
Religions:
Currency:
Total Area:
Climate:
Terrain:
Republic of France
Paris
Bastille Day - July 14 (1789)
63,000,000
100 departments (including 4 overseas) and 22 regions
Roughly 85% of the population is
Roman Catholic, 5-10% Muslim,
2% Protestant, 1% Jewish and the
remaining percent are unaffiliated
The euro (prior to 2002 it was the
franc) which is the shared currency
of 12 European Union countries
211,209 sq. miles (the same size as Texas),
it is the largest country in western Europe.
* Oceanic in the west
* Mediterranean in the south
* Continental in the center and east
Flat plains and hills in the north and
west, with the Pyrenees mountains
in the south, the Alps in the east and
the Massif Central mountains in the
center. The Mont Blanc in the Alps
is western Europe’s highest summit.
BRIEF HISTORY OF FRANCE
Cultural
Political
1645 - Pascal invents
the first calculator
1682 - The Palace of
Versailles is built
1772 - Diderot and
d'Alembert write the
first Encyclopedia
1777-81 - General
Lafayette helps win the
American Revolution
1785-89 - Jefferson represents the U.S. in France
1803 - France sells
Louisiana to the U.S.
1804 - David named
Emperor’s official painter
1827 - Niépce makes
the first true photograph
1839 - Daguerre
invents the first practical photography camera
1853 - Haussmann
redesigns Paris
1854 - Bourseul builds
an experimental phone
1886 - The Statue of
Liberty is given to the U.S.
1889 - The Eiffel
Tower is built in Paris
1895 - The Lumière
Brothers invent the first
portable movie camera
1903 - The first "Tour
de France" bike race
1946 - The first Cannes
International Film
Festival
1951 - France launches
the European integration
project with 5 partners
1979 - Launch of the first
French Rocket, Ariane
1981 - The first TGV
1994 - The tunnel
going under the English
Channel is completed.
1643 - King Louis XIV
1774 - King Louis XVI
1777-83 - France helps the
U.S. gain its independence.
1789 - The French
Revolution Begins!
Storming of the Bastille;
writing of the Declaration
of the Rights of Man and
of the Citizen
1792 - The First Republic
is established
1804 - Napoleon becomes
Emperor of France
1803-15 - Napoleonic Wars
1815-48 - The monarchy
is restored, and France is
ruled by several kings.
1848 - Second Revolution:
the 2nd Republic begins
1852-70 - Napoleon III
restores the Empire
1870-71 - Franco-Prussian
War: 3rd Republic begins.
1914-18 - World War I, the
U.S., France and Great
Britain are allies.
1936 - The Popular Front
launches social reforms.
1939-45 - World War II.
The French Resistance fights
the Nazi occupation. The
U.S. helps liberate France.
1946-52 - France and
Germany rebuild and
become allies.
1950-60 - Independence is
given to France’s former
colonies (in Africa and Asia)
1958 - President Charles
de Gaulle is elected; a new
Constitution is written
1995 - President Jacques
Chirac is elected, and he
is re-elected in 2002.
POLITICS, SOCIETY, & BUSINESS
President of the Republic
The President is elected directly by the people
for a five-year term. The President lives in the
Elysée Palace. Jacques Chirac became the fifth
President of the Republic on May 7, 1995, and
he was reelected on May 5, 2002. The President
appoints the Prime Minister and the
other members of government. He
presides over the Council of
Ministers, where many important
decisions are made. He also certifies
laws, and is the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces.
Prime Minister and Government
Under the direction of the Prime Minister, the government
establishes and carries out national policies for which it is
accountable before Parliament. The Prime Minister directs the
government’s operations and ensures that legislation is carried
out. Dominique de Villepin was appointed Prime Minister by
President Jacques Chirac in June 2005.
Parliament
The Parliament includes two assemblies, the Senate and the
National Assembly. Members of the Senate are elected for a sixyear term by an electoral college comprised of local political
officials. Members of the National Assembly are elected directly by the French people for a five-year term. The most recent
general election was held in June 2002.
In addition to providing a check on the government, the two
assemblies draw up and pass legislation. In case of disagreement
on a law, the National Assembly makes the final decision.
Work and Social Protection
Most French people work 35 hours a week, compared with 40
hours a week in the U.S., and they all enjoy five weeks of paid
vacation a year. In France, the right to health care for all is considered essential. The country’s social security system covers
nearly the entire cost of medical treatment and medication for all
workers and their families, during their entire lives.
Business
France is the world's fifth leading economic power and the
third largest destination of foreign investment in the world.
France is the world's third largest exporter of automobiles, the
second largest exporter of wines, cheeses, and aircraft, and the
leading exporter of perfumes and luxury goods!
SYMBOLS OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
FOOD AND SPORTS
USEFUL WEB SITES
The French Flag
The French flag, called the "tricolor," is
made up of three vertical bands of
color: blue, white and red. The flag was
first used in 1789 during the French
Revolution, and in 1880 it became the
official flag of the French Republic.
Food
French people take food very seriously, which may be why
French cooking is said to be the best in the world!
Here are some well-known French foods:
The Baguette: This is a long, thin
bread that has a hard outer crust,
and a soft yummy middle.
Cheese: France has over 400
cheeses. Cheese is usually served
just before the dessert. Two very
well-known cheeses are Camembert and Brie.
Wine: With more than 900,000 hectares of vineyards across
the countryside, and over 60 regional and local wines, it is
no surprise that wine is common at many French meals.
Do you still need more information about France? If so, we have
a list of Web sites that may be able to help you with your
research! The Web sites listed below are in English, but some of
the links on their pages might lead you to
sites that are only in French.
Marianne
With her profile outlined on the official seal of France,
"Marianne" symbolizes the Republic of
France. During the French Revolution, the figure of a warrior woman wearing a Phrygian
cap represented the ideal of liberty. Her name
stems from "Marie-Anne," which was a popular name in the French countryside at the time.
La Marseillaise: the French National Anthem
La Marseillaise began as a battle song. After France
declared war on Austria and Prussia in 1792, Claude-Joseph
Rouget de Lisle, a French officer in Strasbourg, composed
the "Battle Song of the Army of the Rhine." Banned under
the Empire and the Restoration, La Marseillaise was
rearranged by Hector Berlioz in 1830. It was declared the
national anthem under the Third Republic in 1879. Listen to
it here: www.elysee.fr (click on the British flag and choose
“The Symbols of the Republic”).
The Eiffel Tower
History
One of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Eiffel
Tower (La Tour Eiffel in French), is located in Paris. The
tower was designed and built by Gustave Eiffel over a
period of two years and two months, between January 26,
1887 and March 31, 1889.
Statistics and Fun Facts
* At 1,050 feet high, the Eiffel Tower was
the world's tallest building until 1931, when
the Chrysler Building was built in New York.
* It weighs 7,000 tons.
* There are 1,662 steps to the top.
* 52 tons of brown paint were used to paint it!
* The Eiffel Tower was climbed by a mountaineer in 1954, parachuted off of in 1984 by two
Englishmen, and, in 1923, a journalist rode a bicycle down
347 stairs from the first level!
Sports and Leisure Activity
Athletics are very important to the French. In fact, more
than 10 million people belong to sports clubs in France!
Here are some of France’s more popular sports:
Soccer: With more than
two million amateur players, France’s national soccer
program gained world-wide
recognition after its national
team, Les Bleus (the Blues),
won the Soccer World Cup
for the first time in 1998.
Jubilant celebrations across the country lasted for days.
Tennis: Tennis, enjoyed and played by many in France,
is celebrated every year with a Grand Slam event, played
on the famous clay courts of Roland Garros, near Paris.
Tour de France: The world's most famous cycling race is
held in France every July. The three-week race covers more
than 3,000 kilometers of French countryside, and ends in a
sprint down the Champs Elysées, the most famous avenue
in Paris. America's Lance Armstrong, who won the previous six races, won again in 2005 for a record seventh time!
Rugby: Similar to American football, rugby players try to
get the ball into the other team's goal by running and passing it up the field. They have to be tough and strong!
Pétanque: One of the most traditional leisure activities in
France, it is enjoyed by people of all ages and from every
region. The game, similar to lawn bowling, is played by
trying to get your ball (made of solid metal) closest to the
target (a smaller ball made of wood).
Embassy of France in the U.S.:
www.ambafrance-us.org
www.ambafrance-us.org/kids - Just for kids!
U.S. Embassy in France:
www.amb-usa.fr
Tourist Information:
us.franceguide.com - French Tourist Office in the U.S.
French Government Information:
www.elysee.fr - French President (click on the British flag)
www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/en - Prime Minister
www.assemblee-nat.fr/english - National Assembly
www.senat.fr/international/english - Senate
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/index.gb.html - Foreign Ministry
Museums and Landmarks:
www.nps.gov/stli - The Statue of Liberty’s official site
www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk - The Eiffel Tower’s official site
www.louvre.fr/llv - Louvre Museum
www.musee-orsay.fr - Musée d'Orsay
French Culture in the U.S.:
www.frenchculture.org
French Recipes:
www.recipesource.com/ethnic/europe/french/indexall.html
French Books, Music, and Videos:
www.amazon.ca - Amazon in Canada
www.schoenhofs.com - International Bookstore
www.francevision.com - French videos and music
Penpals:
french.about.com/od/penpals
www.epals.com
Photos of France (free to download!):
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/images2france
Color in the National
Bird of France...
Match the Picture
with the Place
Bonjour! My name is
Pierre. Let’s have fun
discovering France!
FR
CE
3
16
The Rooster!
A. American WWII I. Arc de Triomphe
in Paris___
cemetery in
J. Surfing in
Normandy___
Biarritz___
B. Cathedral in
K. Roman Aqueduct
Amiens___
C. Typical street in over the Gard River___
L. The colorful
Strasbourg___
D. Typical house in rooftops of Beaune___
M. The Towers of
Brittany ___
La Rochelle___
E. Mont SaintN. The Alps___
Michel___
O. Herding sheep
F. Castle of
in the Pyrenees___
Chambord___
G. Fortified village of P. The TGV, the
world’s fastest
Carcassonne___
H. French Riviera___ conventional train___
Can’t figure it out?
See the answers below!
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WordSearch
Geography
French
English
1. Bonjour / Au revoir
2. Comment vas-tu? Je vais bien!
3. Merci / De rien
4. Quel âge as tu? J’ai __ ans.
5. Je viens de ___________.
6. Quel temps fait-il? Il fait beau.
7. Je t’aime!
8. J’ai une soeur / J’ai un frère.
9. J’aime la France. C’est un pays
magnifique.
1. Hello / Goodbye
2. How are you? I’m doing well!
3. Thank you / You’re welcome
4. How old are you? I’m __ years old. 1. ______________________
2. ______________________
5. I come from___________.
3. ______________________
6. How is the weather? It is nice.
4. ______________________
7. I love you!
5. ______________________
8. I have a sister / I have a brother.
9. I love France. It’s a beautiful country. 6. ______________________
7. ______________________
Hidden Words:
France, Napoleon, Marseillaise, Marianne, Chirac, Eiffel Tower, Wine, Cheese,
Baguette, Escargot (French for snail!), French Riviera, Tennis, Soccer, Rugby, Les Bleus, Merci.
Hint: some of the words are reversed or upside down! (for example: CARIHC instead of CHIRAC!)
Press & Information Office,
Embassy of France
October 2005
Name 5 countries and 2 large
bodies of water that surround
France!